Crestor Joint Pain

Crestor is a cholesterol-reducing drug made by Swedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca. Approved by the FDA in 2003, Crestor is highly effective in lowering LDL but can also produce unwanted side effects such as joint and muscle pain. While the cause remains unclear, endocrine, metabolic and genetic factors are believed to play a role in joint and muscle pain associated with the use of Crestor.

Crestor

Crestor, or rosuvastatin, is a cholesterol-reducing medicine made and marketed by AstraZeneca. Approved by the FDA in 2003, Crestor's approval was based on the largest pre-approval data for all statins prior to commercial use.

Additionally, Crestor is the first statin to be approved since the withdrawal of cerivastatin. While rosuvastatin is highly efficacious in reducing cholesterol, due to some of the drug's serious side effects, its safety profile is controversial.

One undesirable side effect of Crestor is joint and muscle pain that is unrelated to exercise or known events. Muscle aching typically goes away after a couple weeks following the discontinuation of the statin medication.

Causes

The exact cause of joint pain and other muscle disorders stemming from Crestor use remains unclear. However, endocrine, metabolic and genetic factors are among the factors believed to play a role.

High doses of Crestor are also tied to muscle pain and tenderness, also known as a condition called statin myopathy. Statin myopathy impairs the production of certain proteins involved in muscle metabolism and function. This impairment has been observed with Crestor, as well as other marketed statins.

Rhabdomyolysis

Rhabdomylosis is a rare but potentially life-threatening side effect of Crestor associated with the continued breakdown of muscle fibers into the bloodstream.

The most common signs and symptoms of rhabdomyolysis include severe muscle aching throughout the entire body, muscle weakness and dark urine. Rhabdomyolsis, which causes the release of myoglobin and potassium, potentially toxic to the kidney, may result in kidney damage.

Study Data

While Crestor has a side effect profile similar to other statins, in pre-approval Crestor trials, there was a 1 percent incidence of myopathy and seven patients developed rhabdomylosis when taking a 80 mg dose of Crestor.

According to post-marketing surveillance data, patients have reported joint and muscle pain, as well as the development of rhabdomyolysis.

Risk Factors

The risk of getting rhabdomylosis increases with use of a 40mg or higher dose of Crestor or when Crestor is used in combination with a cyclosporine, lopinavir/ritonavir or other lipid-lowering drugs. Patients 65 years and older, as well as those with hypothyroidism or renal impairment are also at a greater risk for rhabdomylosis.

Crestor's manufacturer, AstraZeneca, advises patients who experience any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness, especially when accompanied by with fever or malaise, to immediately discontinue use of the drug and seek medical treatment.

References

• Rosuvastatin safety: lessons from the FDA review and post-approval surveillance
• Crestor Package Insert
• Rhabdomylosis

Resources

• Mayo Clinic's Guide to High Blood Cholesterol
• FDA Consumer Guide to Cholesterol Medication